Pinoy coaches up for US trip

Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) president Chito Narvasa yesterday announced the list of 19 candidates from whom two will be picked by two-time Olympian Detlef Schrempf to attend a one-month course at the United States Basketball Academy (USBA) in Eugene, Oregon, next July.

Schrempf is arriving here on Thursday to launch a US Department of State-sponsored sports diplomacy program called the "Adidas Understand the Game." The 40-year-old former National Basketball Association (NBA) star will conduct hoop clinics for kids on Sept. 26-28 in Olongapo and Oct. 3-5 in Lipa. Additionally, Schrempf will supervise a coaching clinic on Sept. 30 and a Big Man’s Camp on Oct. 1 at the Adidas Sports Kamp in the Fort.

Narvasa said the candidates list will be trimmed to 10 before Schrempf’s arrival. Schrempf will interview the 10 finalists then select two scholars and two alternates. The expenses to send, board and lodge the two Filipino coaches at the USBA will be shouldered by the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, which was established in 1996.

The 19 candidates are 30 years old and below and include two females. They are Justin Ladaban of Ateneo de Manila, Omar Ramirez and Cholo Elegino of Ateneo de Davao, Ramon Garcia of Claret School, Nonar Isla and Eleazar Cabototan of Emilio Aguinaldo, Bonnie Tan and Edster Uy of Grace Christian College, Robert de la Rosa of La Salle, Louie Gonzalez of Letran, Sheila Esteban and Carlos Garcia of Lyceum, Benjie Cinco of Paco Catholic School, Jerome Oliva of San Beda College, Bernie Mercado of San Sebastian College, Frankie Angeles of the University of Nueva Caceres, Lemuel Tolentino of the University of the Philippines and Gian Carlo Tan and Gene Alabanza of Xavier School.

Schrempf is flying in with his wife Mari, a former hurdler on the German track team. The others in the traveling party are Lewis and Clark College basketball coach Bob Gaillard and his wife Sally, 5-10 two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics second team All-American guard Brooks Meek, Detlef Schrempf Foundation director Elizabeth Babic, Dan Ash, Lewis and Clark guard Matt Stanley, University of Washington forward Cheryl Sorenson, six-foot Rachel Grayson of Texas A&M, 6-3 Sean Tuohey of Lehigh University and former Ateneo coach Mark Molina.

Former Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) star Jeffrey Flowers, who played with Meek at Lewis and Clark, is coordinating the trip here for Schrempf.

The visitors will be feted at a dinner hosted by the US Ambassador in Deputy Chief of Mission Joseph Mussomel’s home in Dasmariñas Village, Makati, on Sept. 30.

Schrempf will speak at a fund-raising dinner organized by the BCAP and the AYN Sports Management Group at the Kamayan in Intramuros on Oct. 2. He is expected to share insights on his basketball career, explain his sports diplomacy crusade and disclose plans of bringing the "Adidas Understand the Game" program to Mindanao next year.

Narvasa said the dinner will be attended by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Jun Bernardino, Philippine Basketball League (PBL) commissioner Chino Trinidad, former Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) secretary general Moying Martelino, former PBA executive director Sonny Barrios and sports entrepreneur Carlos Velez. He added that tables for dinner have been reserved by San Miguel Corp., Shell, Purefoods, Red Bull, Sta. Lucia Realty, Coca-Cola, the PBL, Viva Mineral Water, the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association, Pepsi Cola, RFM Corp., Burlington, Lorenzo Tan, Macario Te, Martin Romualdez, Ogie Narvasa, Jojo Gamboa and Fantasy World.

Narvasa said tables are selling fast with only a few left. A table sponsor is entitled to slots in the coaching clinic and the Big Man’s Camp.

The Olongapo City government is assembling about 150 to 200 kids in the age range of seven to 15 for the three-day clinic while the Sports Development Office of La Salle Lipa is gathering 250 kids, including 20 girls, for the second leg of Schrempf’s tour.

The newly-opened Adidas Sports Kamp features an air-conditioned indoor basketball court with a Robbins floor and Porter goals and a 750-square meter open field for touch football, kickball, outdoor volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, tetherball, stratus volleyball, dino soccer and wall-climbing.